Printing press control



April 13, 1954 A. D. cARDENAs ET AL PRINTING PRESS CONTROL Filed Feb. 11 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FOR DOUBLE ROLLING TRIPLE ROLLING FOR QUADRUPLE ROLLING INVENTORS BYM ATTORNEY April 13, 1954 4 A. D. CARDENAS 'ETAL PRINTING PRESS CONTROL Filed Feb. 11, 1950 s sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR S LESLIE c. CARDENAS AUBYN D. CARDENAs BY I I i ATTORNEY AU BYN 0. CAR DENAS ATTORN EY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 13, 1954 A. D. CARDENAS ETAL PRINTING PRESS CONTROL Filed Feb. 11, 1950 Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PRESS CONTROL Aubyn D. Cardenas, Merchantville, N. J., and Leslie C. Cardenas, New York, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1950, Serial N 0. 143,796

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to printing systems, relates particularly to printin press control devices and relates especially to means for controlling the paper feed to an automatic printing press to permit of double rolling for more even inking of the type.

In even the best of ink distributing systems, it has been found extremely diificult to ink the type in a printing press with a smooth, uniform covering of ink which is of adequate thickness and free from streaks and irregularities. To avoid these difficulties it has come to be customary to run the inking rollers over the type twice, or more times, the operation being known to the printer as double rolling. It is found that the second application of the rollers to the type yields a much smoother, more even inking of the type faces, and very greatly reduces or entirely eliminates streakiness, which otherwise occurs. When the press is hand fed, this is not difficult to do, but with automatic press feeders, special means must be provided for double rolling. In all commercial presses, automatic means are provided for releasing the platen pressure when there is no paper on the platen, and accordingly, double rolling can be obtained by holding up the feeding of fresh sheets of paper at alternate press cycles.

For this purpose the present invention provides an automatically operated vacuum control, in-

corporated between the press suction pump and the paperfeeder feet, by which the suction is released at alternate platen movements, so that paper is fed only on alternate press strokes,

thereby bringing into operation the automatic platen release, to permit the desired double rolling.

The device of the invention consists of a case having therein a spring-loaded plunger rack,

geared to a valve member suitable for holding transferring the control member to another press.

The device of the present invention is particularly adapted to use on the usual vacuum paper feed equipped presses such as, for example, a press of the type shown in U. S. Patent Thus, the device of the invention provides a simple portable attachment for controlling paper feed cycles to permit of double, triple, or quadruple rolling by feeding paper only every second, every third or every fourth press cycle by a portable device which can be transferred from press to press as needed.

Other objects and details of the invention will be clear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure I is a view in perspective of the case member, plunger and mounting member with vacuum connections;

Figure II is a view showing the interior memobers of the device;

Figure III is a view of the device in operatio on a press; and

Figure IV is a schematic drawing of gear disc member hole location for double, triple and quadruple rolling.

Referring to the figures, there is provided a case member I, having a plurality of channels and recesses therein. Within the case member 1 there is mounted a rack plunger member 2, having a spring 3 and an adjustable limit stop memher 2. There is also provided a mounting member 5 having a recess t therein, connected to an outlet member 1. Between the case member I and mountin member 5 there is positioned a plate member 8, held in plac by through screws. On the plate member 8, there is positioned a gear member 9 having a plurality of holes H. The gear member 9 is held in position by a check pawl 52 under the control of a spring I4. The gear member 9 is driven by another gear member I5 which in turn is driven by a third gear member 16, which cooperates with the rack member 2. The gear member is is mounted upon a, movable shaft ll which projects through a hole l8 in the case member I. shaft 1? then cooperates with a latch member I9 operated by a knurled finger-grip member l, which permits the gear [5 to be lifted out of engagement with the disc 9, when the device to be disabled.

In operation, a lead from th suction line hetween'the suction pump and the feeder feet is connected to the inlet member 22 as shown in Figure I, and the device is held by a clamp, pipe fitting, or screws or any convenientmeans in a position between the press frame and a moving part of the press, at such a position that each stroke, of the press will bring the contact member 23 on the rack 2 against a portion of the press to move it inward. For the operation of this device it is immateria1 whether the case member I is attached to the frame near a moving member of the press which will actuate the rack 2 or whether the case member I is attached to a moving member of the press, so as to bring the member 23 against a portion of press frame for operation of the rack 2. This is possible because of the fact that the suction line connection is most conveniently made by means of a rubber tube connection to outlet member 1.

When the device is installed, the press may be operated as usual and paper fed to the platen. The first sheet then may receive an impression, but during the platen movement, the rack member 2 is pressed inward, the gear I'B rotated, the gear l5 rotated, and the gear disc 9 likewise rotated (in the embodiment shown) by A; of a,

revolution. For the initial stroke, the holes II are out of register with the hole 24 in the plate member 3, and out of register with the hole member 25 in the casemember i. The hole member 24 leads into the hole 26 in the mounting member 5, which in turn is connected through the member 22 to the feeder feet tube and through the member '5' to the suction line.

The first stroke of the press then by movement of the gear train and gear disc 9 brings a hole H into register between the hole 24 and the hole 25, thereby venting air to the members 22 and I, and destroying the vacuum on the suction feed in the press. Accordingly, for the second stroke, there being no vacuum on the feeder feet, no paper is fed and the automatic platen release operates to prevent application of platen pressure to the type. Simultaneously, the rack member 2 is depressed again, and the ink rolls make a second traverse over the type face for a second or double rolling. The second movement of the rack Z operates the gear train and the gear plate s to bring the hole it out of register between the hole 24 and the hole 25, thereby maintaining the vacuum, with the result that paper is fed for the third stroke, whereafter movement of the rack Z and gear train opens the vent, destroys the vacuum for the fourth stroke and a further movement of the rack closes the vacuum bleed, permitting the feeding of paper on the fifth stroke; this being continued as long as double rolling is desired.

If at a later interval or on another run it is desired to disable the double rolling feature without removing the device of the present invention, the knurled member 21 is turned to bring the latch member 19 against the shaft H, at a time when the holes H are out of register with the holes 24 and 25, thereby preventing further movement of the disc 9, and preventing breaking of the suction on the feeder feet.

For triple rolling, an alternative gear disc 9, having four holes H spaced as shown in Figure IV may be substituted; and for quadruple rolling, still another disc 9, having six holes I l spaced as shown in Figure IV may be put in place,

It may be noted that no change in size of gear valve plate is needed in changing from double to triple or quadruple rolling, but in some instances it may be convenient to change the length of stroke on the rack plunger member 2.

It may be noted that a spring release is required between the valve disc 9 and rack plunger member 2 to permit a return stroke of the rack member without moving the valve disc 9. The structure for this purpose is particularly well shown in the figures, showing a rear view of plate member 8 with spring I 3 tensioned pivot arm ill to which gear member [5 is mounted by shaft member I1, and movable through slot 20 in plate member 8. By this procedure the gear member l5, being free to move, gives the necessary yielding connection between the rack and the valve disc. When it is desired to perform the operation of double rolling on another press, the hose may be disconnected from outlet member I plugged or re-installed as originally fitted to maintain the suction, the inlet member 22 disconnected or in other cases the clamp released and the device transferred to another press.

In the above embodiment the suction is broken by bleeding air into the suction line through the hole 25 from atmosphere. However, this i not always necessary, since the fitting 22 may readily be closed and the cut ends of the suction line connected one to the fitting l, and the other to a special fitting mounted over hole 25, so that the disc 9 acts as a valve interposed in the vacuum line. This is desirable when one vacuum lead is used for several purposes, but is less desirable with the standard press, since it requires rejoining of the suction line when the device is removed, whereas the first described method of operation requires merely plugging of a T in the suction line when the device is removed.

Thus, the device is particularly adapted to automatic control of suction paper feeding on an automatic press, to permit of double rolling, or triple rolling, or the like, as may be needed by the operation of breaking the suction to the paper feeders at appropriate stages in the press cycle to interrupt the feeding of paper, cause the automatic press control to release the platen at appropriate times, thereby enabling the inking rollers to make two or more traverses over the type faces between the taking of impressions. The device is particularly adapted to any type of automatic presses, whether flat bed or cylinder press, but it is particularly adapted to cylinder press constructions; although broadly applicable to any automatically fed press.

While there are above disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the process and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to provide still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and. it is therefore desired that only such limitations be imposed upon the appended claims as are stated therein or required by the prior art.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a printing press having relatively movable platen and press-frame members and a vacuum gripper sheet feeder, a control for the vacuum line of the sheet feeder comprising a case member adapted to be fastened between the movable platen member and a press member, a short stroke plunger therein adapted to be moved by relative movement between said platen and said press frame member during final portions of the relative movement stroke only, a spring cooperating between said plunger and said case for return movement of said plunger, a gear rack member attached to said plunger, a valve plate mounted on a set axle within said case having spaced valve ports therein, valve ports in said case connected to the vacuum line of the sheet feeder, and co-operating with the ports in said valve plate, the valve plate ports being spaced to register and not registerwith the case valve ports, gear teeth around the periphery of said valve plate, and a gear train between said plunger and rack and the teeth of said valve plate comprising a first, fixed axis gear engaging said rack and a second gear mounted on a spring pressed axle engaging both the first gear and the gear teeth on the valve plate for a driving stroke and spring released on the return stroke to avoid movement of the valve plate, and a detent engaging the teeth on said valve plate to prevent movement in the reverse direction.

2.. In a printing press having relatively movable frame and platen members and a vacuum gripper sheet feeder, a rolling control for the vacuum line of the sheet feeder comprising a case member having a chamber therein and guideways, and a chamber vent, adapted to be positioned between a stationary and a movable member of the press and connected to the feeder vacuum line, a rack toothed plunger positioned Within said guideways and between said stationary and movable members, such that the said plunger is actuated by each press stroke, a spring member co-operating between said case and said plunger to return said plunger at the completion of a press stroke, a gear train comprising a first gear engaging with said rack and mounted on a set axis, a second gear engaging said first gear and mounted on a spring pressed axis, a mounting for said second gear comprising a swinging link and a spring urging said link into gear engaging position, and a third gear mounted on a set axis and having spaced ports therein, a port in said case adapted to register and not register with the ports in said third gear, a detent co-operating with said third gear for preventing reverse movement of said third gear, whereby alternate register and non-register of the ports enables and disables the pres feeder system.

3. In a printing press rolling control for a printing press having relatively movable frame and platen members and a vacuum gripper sheet feeder comprising a case member connected to the vacuum line of the sheet feeder and defining a vacuum chamber, guideways therein, a rack equipped plunger in said guideways, the said case and plunger being adapted to be supported on a press frame part with the plunger in line with the relative movement of a platen part such that the plunger is actuated during a part only of the press stroke, a spring member positioned between said case and said plunger to return the plunger at the end of a press stroke, a gear train comprising a first gear on a set axis engaging with said rack, a second gear on a swinging axis engaging said first gear, a swinging link and spring supporting said second gear in engagement during a press stroke portion toward printing position and releasing said gear from engagement during the remainder of the stroke, and a third gear having gear teeth on the periphery thereof and a ported web therewithin the said port being spaced to permit register and non-register, a port in said case adjacent said third gear with which said gear ports register and non-register to enable and disable said feeding device.

4. The device of claim 3 in which. a cam member is provided, co-operating with the said swinging link to hold said second gear continuously out of engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,469,515 Kelly Oct. 2, 1923 1,942,490 Quigley Jan. 9, 1934 1,957,812 Stein May 8, 1934 1,974,544 Rowell Sept. 25, 1934 

